Grate bar



April 3, 1928.

C.iQ.VVAlD GRATE BAR Filed De0- 6, 1923 Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

CALVIN RETICUS \VAID, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIG'NOR TO W. o. APPLEBY,

OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

GRATE BAR.

Application filed December 26, 1923. Serial No. 682,762.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in grate bars of the type-in which a rocking assembly bar is adapted to receive a plurality of removable grate seg- 6 ments carrying the fire heads which are interchangeably mounted on the bar so as to make .cheap and inexpensive the repair and maintenance of the assembled grate.

The chiezt object in my present invent-ion 10 is to design both the assembly bar and the grate segments so that they can be easily and cheaply cast; that practically no machine work shall be required either on the segments or the grate bar; and that the segments shall present a minimum interference to the tree passage of air upwardly to the fire heads to the end that the entire fire supporting grate surface shall have a inaxirmim air circulation, which air will flow freely both under and over the bars and through the grate openings, which is essential for the rapid and efficient combustion of the fuel.

A further object of my invention is to for-mall of the segments of a grate alike so that only a single type of segment will be required to be stocked, and to this end my invention contemplates so designing the assembly bar and the attachment means for the shaker bar that the latter can be .applied directly to the assembly bar in practically any desired position transversely of the grate. By this arrangement I avoid the casting of certain segments with shaker arms and reduce to a minimum the patterns required and the amount of castings to be stocked.

A further object of my invention is to design an assembly bar as a single bar with its upper edge dropped below the axis of its trun-nions and fluted or made concave between the spaced points which receive and center the supporting webs of the grate segments.

A further object is to support a segment solely by thin vertical end webs disposed in the plane in which the segment is rocked so as to oppose only their edges to the flow of air from front to rear of the grate and by utilizing only two supporting webs for a segment I can leave the entire arched space under the fingers forming the fire head practically uninterrupted for the free upflow of air through the interstices between the fingers. v a

My invention also comprises certain novel details of construction and arrangements of parts both in the grate segments themselves, in theassembly bar, in the shaker lugs and m their manner of attachment to the grate bar.

In the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated only of my invention Fig. 1 shows an assembly bar with two gl'tate segments assembled thereon, the third being removed to show the shaker lugs attached in plan view.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l, omitting the shaker lugs.

Fig. 3 is a tragmental View in elevation of one end of the assembly bar showing the shaker lugs mounted thereon with the shaker bar omitted.

Figs. 4]: and 5 are sectional views taken on the line 4&4: of Fig. 2, and -5 5 of Fig. 4, respectively. Fig. 6v is a View corresponding to Fig. .5 showing a modified type of segment on a reduced scale.

Similar reference numerals refer to simi lar parts throughout the drawings.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, I show an assembly bar 1 formed by a vertical web-hike casting having a shoulder 2 extending, along its base and terminating in a bottom concave iace 8 for lightness and strength. The bar at intervals on each side is cast with spaced ribsor shoulders at which rise from the shoulder and extend preferably to the top edge of the bar. These shoulders 4 are arranged opposite eaoh other on both sides of the bar and in each shoulder is formed a vertical concave groove 5 which terminates at its bottom in a notch 6 in the shoulder 2, which notch slopes outwardly and merges into the side of the shoulder 2 a little below the 11pper edge thereof. The shoulders 4 are an ranged in groups of two pairs for each grate segment, the units of each group are equi-dista nt-1y spaced from the next adjacent groups so that the segments can be interchangeably mounted therein without changing the grate surface. The upper edge of a bar between the pairs of shoulders is beveled to a sharp edge and cut down on a concave as indicated at 7. This tinting of the upper edge of the assembly bar throughout its length greatly increases the air circulation space without weakening the bar. At each end a typical embodiment 2 vertically as to provide supports Inasmuch as the several grate segments,

which are generally indicated by'the numeral 10, are alike onlyone "need bedescribed. 5 7

Referring more particularly toFigs. 2, 4: and 5, itwill be seen that each segment comprises parallel vertical transverse end walls 11 which near-their ends are connected to their vertical parallel webs 12, which extend fromfront to rear of the grate and drop below the level of the end walls 11 so 13 which are formed with a bottom vertical slot 1e that enables the supports to be'mounted astride an opposite pair of shoulders iof the assembly bar.

' on each side and thus 'be lifted vertically from the bar.-

uniformly distributed Preferably the supports are strengthened by thinner webs 15 which extend from nearthe lower ends of the support on an outward curve to points of juncture with the walls 11; The slot 1 1 is notched out or enlarged at 16 so as to avoid too close a fit with the shoulder 2 of 'the'bar, it being noted that the supports 13 will pass freely downwardly into the grooves!) in the shoulders l which shoulders receivethe supports between them bring the segment to position, centering it and holding itagainst lateral displacementwhileleaving it freeF to he notches'fi' at the bottom of the grooves 5 leave ample clearance so that fins or projections often present on the casting will not prevent the segments properly seating on the bar. The webs 12 are arched overhead and areprovided on their inner and outer faces with'laterally extending teeth 17 and18, these teeth being of such length and so spaced as to afford ample support for the fire bed while leaving a maximum number of spaces for the free and unobstructed passage of air upwardly therethrough to the fire. 1

In the drawings I show the end walls 11 connected by a central web 19 which is arched overhead like the end walls 12 but which is a much thinner web and terminates just below the bottom beveled edges of its teeth 20,'which, as shown, correspond to teeth 18. In practice the grate segments are made in difierent widths to suit fire boxes orfurnaces of different sizes,*it being only essential that the segment shall comprise two end webs 12 which may be combined with as many middle webs 19 as desired. As the width of the segments vary, the end webs 12 can be drawn nearer together or farther apart and the fingers 17, 18 and 20 can be lengthened or shortened so as to shown.

freely. to the opening the barby the bolts maintain approximately the clearances I have illustrated the middle web as it represents the more complex structure. i

It will be especially 11 are cut away on an ogee curve beyond. their point of juncture with the webs 12 and that between the webs 12 the bottom edges of the walls 11, when the segment is level, will stand high above the fluted top level of the assembly bar, thus affording a direct, free and practically unobstructed passagefor the air to flow from front to rear of thc'grate between h bars 1 and the fire heads of the grate segments support-- ed thereby. In this way I get a practically unobstructed flow of air which gains access between all of the fin- 20. and makes, the grate. ca-

' hot fire while ample updraft gers 17, 18 and pable of maintainmg a very the widely distributed and of 'cool air through the grate will prevent burning out of grate segments. The webs 15-aff0rd ample.reinforcement for the relatively thick end walls'11 ofthe grate segment and enable it to withstand the strain of breaking the clinkers as the grate rocked. Preferably the under edges of the intermediate web 19 are beveled.

To facilitate the attachment of shaker e le ments, not shown, I provide for each AS56111" bly bar ,a pair of shaker lugs 21 and 22 which at their upper edges have jaws shaped to fit about and grip theshouldered bottom edge 2 of the bar; Bosses 23 are castin the lugs below the barand receive bolts 24 which serveto clamp the jaws in interlocked engagenient with the assembly bar. The lug 22 of each pair is providediwith a laterally offset dependent arm tern'i'inating in a perforatedv ear 25,and its companion lug 21 is provided with a similarly offset arm terminating in a perforated ear 26. These ears, when the. lugs are clamped in position on 24, will be sufficiently spaced to receivea shaker bar, not shown, which is adaptedto be bolted to the lugs through aligned apertures in. the ears 25 and 26. The arms are braced by. suitable webs to strengthen them for their duties and the advantage of offsetting them is that the lugs, by reversing or by shiftingthem lengthwise of the bar between the shoulders 4:, can bring the cars 25, 26 into any desired transverse position to receive a shaker bar. This isof great advantage in that itenables me to place the shaker bars wherever de: sired, both for front and back sections of the grate and to bring them through any openings already provided in the fire box front.

As observedin-Fig. 5, all ofthe teeth have the greatest depth at their supporting web and have their under edges sharply noted by. reference to Figs. 2 and 5 that the ends of the walls the segment with j beveled. The various webs and teeth are shaped so as to have proper draft to be drawn from the sand. I

In operation, the assembly bars are mounted transversely in the manner well understood in the art on suitable supports and the individual grate segments 10 are mounted astride the bars with their supports 13 fitting into the groove-ways 5 on the shoulders 4: and being thereby spaced and centered on the assembly bar. The shaker lugs are then applied to the assembly bars in proper alignment with the opening or openings in the furnace front and the shaker bar or bars are connected to the lugs of the group of assembly bars which are to be shaken together. The grate as thus assembled interposes only the narrow relatively thin webs 13 and end walls 11 to the free longitudinal flow of air from front to rear through the furnace, the air currents being free to flow over the assembly bars due to the spacing of the g ates above the fluted top edge of the bars. When any grate segment is damaged it can be quickly replaced by clearing the fire from about it and lifting it vertically from its assembly bar and then dropping a new segment astride the bar to replace it. By providing shaker lugs and attaching them to the assembly bar I can make all segments alike, though obviously the segments will be made in sizes so that they can be assembled to make any desired size of grate surface.

Though I have described with great particnlarity the details of the embodiment of the invention herein shown, it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto, as changes in arrangement and substitution of equivalents may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grate, an assembly bar having rocker trunnions, a plurality of duplicate grate segments having spaced supporting webs detachably mounted on said bar, and a shaker attachment clamped to the base of said bar between the supporting webs of said segments.

2. In a grate as described in. claim 1, the shaker attachment being adapted for adjustment lengthwise of the assembly bar between the webs of a segment.

3. In a grate, an assembly bar having end rocker trunnions and an enlarged base, a plurality of individual grate segments having spaced supporting webs mounted on said bar, and shaker lugs clamped to the base portion of said bar and adjustable lengthwise thereon between the segment webs.

4:. In a shaker grate, a unit comprising an assembly bar having an enlarged base, and

iv thin body portion enlarged at its base and provided with spaced shoulders forming segment spacer elements arranged in opposite pairs on its vertical sides and rising vertically from said base substantially to the top of the bar, in combination with grate segments having their vertical supp0rting webs slotted to straddle said bar and coact with said spacer. elements to be thereby centered on the bar free for independent vertical removal and replacement.

6. In a grate according to claim 5, the assembly bar being reduced to form channels between the shoulders and having its base notched at the bottom of each of said channels, as and for the purposes described.

7. In a grate according to claim 5, the segment supporting webs being set at right angles to the bar and adapted to lit slidably into the grooves formed between said pairs of shoulders disposed oppositely on the sides of said bar, each supporting Web having its sides at the bottom end of the slot cut away, the enlarged base of the bar being notched out opposite the said cut away sides of the,

web slot when the segment is mounted on the bar.

8. A grate composed of a series of transverse rocking assembly bars and supporting elements therefor, and a series of similar grate segments mounted on each assembly bar and having means to center and hold them thereon against lateral displacement, each segment having a fire head with thin tooth supporting webs which taper downwardly and stand in vertical parallel planes from side to side of the grate, the outer webs of said fire heads being downwardly extended and having their bases transversely notched to straddle the assembly bar and support the entire fire head, and intermediate webs of said fire heads being in a plane substantially above the top level of the assembly bars.

9. A grate in accordance with claim 8, in which the segments have solid ends connecting the several webs and depending sub stantially below the bottom level of the teeth and the upper edge of the assembly bar is cut away between the points of engagement with the supporting webs of the grate segments to bring it below the level of said solid ends.

10. A grate in accordance with claim 8, in which the top edge of the assembly bar is made concave throughout itsportion between only bein elongated and having their bases the points of engagement with theend suptransvers ly notched to straddle the assemporting' webs of each grate segment. bly bar shoulders and to be supported there- 15 11. A grate comprising a plurality of by with the entire fire head standing subrocking assembly bars and supports therestantially above thetop level of the assemfor, each bar having spaced vertically bly bar thereby to permit .a free flow of air grooved centering shoulders for grate segfrom front to rear of the grate between ments and having its upperv edge concave the successive fire heads and assembly bars 20 between such shoulders, and a plurality of thereof. s

* duplicate grate segments, each having a fire In testin'ionyvwhereof I aflix my signature.

head and thin transverse vertical webs beara V a ing teeth at their upper ends, the end Webs CALVIN RETICUSVWAID. 

